A South Africa-based Zimbabwean man, Benias Madhakasi, who was being charged with possession of computer-generated caricature images of President Robert Mugabe, has been removed from remand.
Madhakasi, who was arrested in April and had been in prison since then after the High Court quashed a $200 bail he had been granted by a lower court, is now free as all the charges he was facing were thrown out.
Madhakasi’s lawyer, Lizwe Jamela, confirmed the development yesterday.
“He is now free and out of custody,” said Jamela. “He is now free to do his business.”
In handing down her verdict, Beitbridge magistrate Auxilia Chiumburu said the court would not allow the State to go on a fishing expedition for evidence while Madhakasi languished in remand prison. The court also dismissed another charge of contravening Section 36 of the Immigration Act for unlawful possession of or making use of a permit or travel document issued to another person, leaving Madhakasi a free man.